Dust collecting and spray device for grinding machines



5 Sheets-Sfieet 1 V [mama AYTOENEY 5 a u i M d O D N e i 7 5 a 1 w/ 4 m m in J 4 J1 2 4 I 2/ T 8 u 4 J. A. SHELBY DUST COLLECTING AND SPRAY DEVICE FOR GRINDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 23, 1953 June 28, 1955 J. A. SHELBY DUST COLLECTING AND SPRAY DEVICE FOR GRINDING'MACHiNES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 23, 1955 MENTOR JOIm S/Ie/ /Mfifi I firm/vex June 28, 1955 J, SHELBY 2,711,620

DUST COLLECTING AND SPRAY DEVICE FOR GRINDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 25, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 JNVENTOR Job 7 AS/re/b Arr-0mm rates DUST COLLECTING AND SPRAY DEVICE FOR GRINDENG MACHINES This invention relates to a dust collecting and liquid coolant spray unit. More specifically this invention relates to an improved dust collector particularly adapted for collecting grinding dust from grinding machines or like units at the same time that coolant is applied to the work.

The use of dust collectors in connection with grinding machines is well known in the art. These collectors have become exceedingly important in the collection of diamond dust, in cases where diamond grinding wheels are employed, and efliciency in the collection of the dust must be at a maximum. in order to increase the wear life of the diamond wheel it is also desirable to provide a coolant spray which cools the wheel. In the ordinary unit this spray effectively cools but the collection of the diamond dust is hampered since the moisture laden dust soon clogs up the duct work and internal parts of the unit. Applicant being confronted with the need for an effective unit to accomplish the desired objectives has devised a unit which will accomplish this purpose. It is a prime object, then, of this invention to provide an improved dust collecting and liquid coolant spray unit that is particularly effective for reclaiming diamond grinding dust.

A still further object is to provide an improved dust collecting and liquid spray unit having an improved internal construction designed to efiiciently and eiiectively circulate dust laden air within the unit whereby the dust is released to a chamber within the unit and the air is exhausted from the chamber.

Still another object is to provide an improved dust collector and liquid spray coolant unit for reclaiming grinding dust particles, the unit'including improved means for preventing the clogging of the intake conduit of the unit.

A further object is to provide air intake means for an improved dust collector, the intake means including a liquid spray means whereby the incoming air may be effectively carried to a chamber within the collector and the clogging of the unit may be prevented; thus providing an eficiently operatingunit without the need of frequent maintenance.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an efiective dust collecting and liquid spray unit including means for cooling and spraying the grinding disk to which the unit may be attached.

A still further object is the provision of a grinding dust collector including an improved means for wetting the grinding dust as it is taken into the unit during its suspension in the air.

These and further objects will become more readily apparent from a reading of the specification when examined in connection with the accompanying sheets of drawings.

In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a dust collecting and coolant liquid spray unit, illustrating the unit in a position attached to a conventional grinding machine shown in phantom lines;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the unit shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a dust collecting and spray unit taken along the line 33 of Figure 1;

atent 2,711,620 Fatented June 28, 1955 Figure 4 is a view, in section, taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detail view, in elevation, of an intake hood and spray equipment shown in position relative to the grinding disk of a grinding machine;

Figure 7 is a side clevational view of an intake hood and spray equipment of a dust collecting and spray unit;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of an attaching bracket and associated structure taken along line 88 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view through an intake hood and spray equipment taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 6;

Figure 10 is a detail elevation view of a portion of the spray equipment taken along the line 1010 of Figure 9;

Figure ll is a view in cross section taken along the line 1111 of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a detail view in cross section along the line 1212 of Figure 9.

Referring now to Figures 1 through 5, a dust collecting and liquid spray unit is generally designated by the reference character 10. The unit comprises a container or casing 11 having a chamber 12. The casing 11 is provided with an opening 13 leading to the atmosphere. A moisture eliminating device 14 including a plurality of irregular bafiies 14 is positioned adjacent to the opening 13, this device 14 being of a conventional construction permitting the escape of air while retaining a good portion of the particulate moisture which might be present in the air.

The casing 11 includes a downwardly extending skirt 15. A pan 16 is connected over the skirt 15 in telescoping relation. The pan 16 is held in engagement with the skirt 15 by means of suitable releasable fastening devices 17. Referring now particularly to Figure 5 a first bafile extends vertically and laterally across the chamber 12. The baffle 18 is connected to a vertically extending tubular chute 19 which as indicated in Figure 3 terminates a short distance above the bottom of the pan 16 as indicated at 20. The chute 13 extends vertically upwardly to the top wall of the container 11. The container 11 is provided at its upper end with an opening 21 which registers with the chute 19. The chute 19 has one portion of one of its lower walls positioned above its lower end to provide an 7 opening 22. As best indicated in Figures 3 and 5 a second bafile 23 extends vertically and laterally Within the chamber 12 in a direction opposite to the direction of extension of the bafiie 18. The baffle 23 is positioned, as is best shown in Figure 3, to mask at least a portion of the baflies 14' of the moisture eliminating unit 14.

A centrifugal separating unit 24 is supported on the container 11. The separator 24 may be of a conventional type including a fan or blower 25. The unit is so arranged that it will pick up by means of suction, air and particles of dust in suspension, discharge the air at one point and centrifugally separate the moisture laden dust from the air and discharge it at another point. The unit includes an air discharge conduit 26 which as indicated in Figures 3 and 5 is in communication with the chamber 12 at a point remotely located from the moisture eliminating unit 14. The separator 24 also includes an air inlet conduit 27 and a dust outlet conduit 28 in communication with the chamber 12 by means of the chute 19. A power unit 29 is suitably supported on the casing 11 for driving the separator 24. As shown in Figure 1, an intake conduit 30 is connected to the separator 24. The conduit 36 is in communication with a hood 31 which includes an enlarged opening 32.

The hood 31 is provided with a bracket 33, as best shown in Figures 9 and 12, having upper and lower plate 7 portions 34 and 35. A clamping lever 36 is pivoted as indicated at 37. An attaching bracket 38 including an attaching portion 39 is adapted to be suitably supported on a surface of a grinding machine schematically shown and indicated in Figure 1 by the reference character 40. The attaching bracket 38 includes an arcuate clamping face 41 which may have its opposite sides rigidly engaged by the plate portions 34 and 35, and the lever 36 securely and adjustably connects the hood 31 in position adjacent the grinding disk 42 of the grinding machine 40. As best shown in Figures 6 and 9 the grinding machine 49 may include a grinding disk 42 which is suitably rotated by means of a spindle 43. The grinding whee 42 which is shown is of cone shaped design and may comprise a suitable grinding compound including industrial diamonds.

The container 11 is provided with a recessed portion 44 as best indicated in Figures 1, 3 and 4. A power unit 45 is seated within the recessed portion 4d. The power unit 45 includes an extension 46 which projects downwardly into the chamber 12 and is provided at its lower end with a suitable pump 47 having inlet openings 47'. A conduit 48 is connected to the pump 47, the conduit 48 extending through the container 11 and being connected to a fitting 49. A conduit 59 is connected to the fitting 49. The conduit 50 having at its end portion a spray head 51. The spray head 51 is so positioned as to direct liquid into the hood 31 and the intake conduit 30.

A support 52 is suitably connected to bracket 33 to project within the hood 31 and extends laterally with respect to the hood 31. A support 52 has positioned thereon a laterally adjustable bracket 53 which may be suitably tightened into place by means of a set screw 54. The bracket 53 supports a pair of contiguous tubes 55 and 56. A wiper head 57 is provided at the ends of the tubes 55 and 56, the wiper head 57 including a wiper 58. The wiper 58 may comprise a suitable absorbent clothlike material which will permit the seepage of liquid outwardly from the wiper head 57. The tube 56 is in communication with the wiper head 57 and is provided at its end with an outlet 59 for directing liquid inwardly into the hood 31. The tube 55 is connected to a flexible conduit 60 which in turn is connected to a by-pass conduit 61 having a valve 62 which in turn is connected to the fitting 49 by means of an elbow 63.

The operation In the operation of grinding units such as indicated in the figures it is extremely important to provide an eificient dust collecting unit so that the diamond grinding dust is properly collected for reclamation purposes. The

hood 31 may be properly clamped in position by virtue of the brackets 33, 38 and the clamping lever 36. The hood 31 can easily and quickly be adjusted vertically with respect to the clamping face 41 of the bracket 38 by merely turning the lever 36 so that the clamping face 41 is clamped between the plates 34 and 35 and the clamping lever 36. Effective adjustable positioning of the hood 31 is thus provided relative to the grinding Wheel or disk 42. The centrifugal separator and blower 24 and 25 are set in operation whereupon suction causes the grinding dust to enter into the hood 31 and to the intake conduit 39. The water laden diamond dust and other fragments from the grinding disk are separated and leave the outlet 28 whereupon they descend downwardly through the chute 19 Where they are deposited in the pan 16 at or below water level. It is significant to note that the air intake conduit 27 returns only the air which entered with the dust through conduit 28 into chute 19. The majority of the air is discharged through the air discharge conduit 26 to a position remote from the moisture eliminating unit 14. As best shown by the arrows in Figure the air which contains particulate moisture is directed past the chute 19 Where it follows a circuitous path and engages the bafiie 23 whereupon it is deflected before, it enters into the moisture eliminator 14. The air is thus discharged from the moisture eliminator 14 through the opening 13 whereupon the major portion of the moisture is taken from the air. The novel baflling of the unit as indicated is effective to cause a major portion of the moisture to be retained within the chamber 12 before it reaches the moisture eliminating unit.

The pump 47 takes in liquid through the intake openings 47 whereupon liquid is pumped to the conduit 48, and to the conduit whereupon it is discharged from the spray head 51. The spray head 51 is effective to discharge liquid in the direction of movement of the air stream and serves to flush the diamond dust and other particles through the intake conduit 30 and through the centrifugal separator 24. Liquid going through the separator 24 also is discharged through the dust discharge conduit 2%. Liquid under pressure also is pumped to the by-pass conduit 61 and 60 and to the tube which communicates with the wiper head 57. The wiper member 58 is positioned as indicated in Figure 9 in contiguous relation with respect to the spindle 43 of the grinding disk 42. Liquid thus is deposited on the end of the spindle 43 and this liquid spreads over the inner surface of the grinding disk 42 in a fine film thus effectively cooling the grinding wheel and simultaneously wetting the surface of the unit. Liquid from the wiper head 57 leads through the tube 56 and is discharged at 59 to the hood 31. The tube 56 permits a strong head of water to be constantly present within the wiper head 57 thus assuring that a constant steady stream of liquids seeps through the wiper member 53 for suitably wetting the spindle 43. The liquid which is discharged from the tube 56 also enters into the hood 31 and is carried to the separator 24 for return to the chamber 12.

Grinding dust which is captured by the hood 31 enters into the chamber 12 whereupon it can easily be reclaimed by removing the pan 16. The by-pass conduit and the wiper member are effective to cool the grinding Wheel and the spray head 51 with the tube 56 discharges a sufficient amount of liquid into the hood 31 so that clogging up the hood and intake conduit 30 is prevented. Thus by wetting the grinding wheel the dust particles have a tendency to mass together before they are centrifugally discharged and the massed particles in suspension are wetted again by the spray head 51 thus preventing clogging of the conduits and improving the centrifugal separation.

It can now be seen that an improved and efiicient dust collecting and spray unit has been disclosed which fully accomplishes all of the objects of the invention. It must be understood that changes may be made in the invention which do not depart from the scope and spirit of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dust collecting and liquid spray unit, a casing having a receiving chamber adapted to contain a coolant liquid, said chamber including a first opening, a moisture eliminating unit over said first opening, said moisture eliminating unit including a plurality of passages to provide for communication between said chamber and the atmosphere, a centrifugal dust separator connected to said casing, said separator including a rotatable suction fan, means connected to said fan for rotating the same, said separator including an air discharge conduit in communication with said chamber, an air intake conduit and a dust discharge conduit on said separator, the point of communication between said chamber and said air discharge conduit being positioned remote from said moisture eliminating unit, a first bafiie extending vertically within said chamber, said first bafile extending laterally across a portion of said chamber from one side thereof, a second bafile extending vertically within said chamber, said second bafile extending laterally across a portion of said chamber from an opposite side of said chamber and being positioned adjacent said moisture eliminating unit to mask at least a portion of said unit, a dust receiving chute within said chamber, said chute including a vertically extending tubular portion in communication with said air intake conduit and said dust discharge conduit, said tubular portion terminating above the bottom of said chamber and being provided with a second opening to permit the discharge of dust from said chute to said chambenan intake pipe connected to said separator, and

an inlet hood connected to said intake pipe, said intake hood being adapted to be connected adjacent to a grinding element for drawing suspended grinding dust into said centrifugal separator and to discharge conduit into said chamber.

2. In a dust collecting and liquid spray unit, a casing having a receiving chamber adapted to contain a coolant liquid, said chamber including a first opening, a moisture eliminating unit over said first opening, said moisture eliminating unit including a plurality of passages to provide for communication between said chamber and the atmosphere, a centrifugal dust separator connected to said casing, said separator including a rotatable suction 7 fan, means connected to said fan for rotating the same, said separator including an air discharge conduit in communication with said chamber, an air intake conduit and a dust discharge conduit on said separator, the point of communication between said chamber and said air discharge conduit being positioned remote from said moisture eliminating unit, a first baffle extending vertically within said chamber, said first baifle extending laterally across a portion of said chamber from one side thereof, a second baifle extending vertically within said chamber, said second baflie extending laterally across a portion of said chamber from an opposite side thereof, the baffle extending in a direction substantially parallel to said first baffle and in a direction opposite to the direction of extension of said first baffle whereby a circuitous passage is provided in said chamber between the point of communication of said air discharge conduit and said moisture eliminating unit, a dust receiving chute within said chamber, said chute including a vertically extending tubular portion in communication with said air intake conduit and said dust discharge conduit, said tubular portion terminating above the bottom of said chamber and being provided with a second opening to permit the discharge of dust from said chute to said chamber, an intake pipe connected to said separator, and an inlet hood connected to said intake pipe, said intake hood being adapted to be connected adjacent to a grinding element for drawing suspended grinding dust into said centrifugal separator and to the discharge-conduit into said chamber.

3. In a dust collecting and liquid spray unit, a casing having a receiving chamber adapted to contain a coolant liquid, said chamber including a first opening in communication with the atmosphere, a centrifugal dust separator connected to said casing, said separator including an air discharge conduit in communication with said chamber, an air intake conduit and a dust discharge conduit on said separator, a dust receiving chute within said chamber, said chute including a vertically extending tubular portion in communication with said air intake conduit and said dust discharge conduit to permit the discharge of dust from said chute to said chamber, an intake pipe connected to said separator, an inlet hood connected to said intake pipe, said inlet hood being adapted to be connected adjacent to a grinding element for drawing suspended grinding dust into said centrifugal separator, a liquid conduit in communication with said chamber, a pump connected to said liquid conduit for pumping liquid from said chamber through said liquid conduit, a spray head on said liquid conduit, and means connecting said spray head to said inlet hood at a point remote from the grinding element whereby liquid is directed toward the hood in the direction of movement of the grinding dust independently of the grinding element for assisting dust particles in air suspension toward said chamber after they have been removed from the grinding element.

4. In a dust collecting and liquid spray unit, a casing having a receiving chamber adapted to contain a coolant liquid, said chamber including a first opening in communication with the atmosphere, a centrifugal dust separator connected to said casing, said separator including an air discharge conduit in communication with said chamber, an air intake conduit and a dust discharge conduit on said separator, a dust receiving chute Within said chamber, said chute including a vertically extending tubular portion in communication with said air intake conduit and said dust discharge conduit to permit the discharge of dust from said chute to said chamber, an intake pipe connected to said separator, an inlet hood connected to said intake pipe, said intake hood being adapted to be connected adjacent to a grinding element for drawing suspended grinding dust into said centrifugal separator, a liquid conduit in communication with said chamber, a pump connected to said liquid conduit for pumping liquid from said chamber through said liquid conduit, a spray head on said liquid conduit, means connecting said spray head to said intake hood at a point remote from the grinding element whereby liquid is directed toward the hood in the direction of movement of the grinding dust, independently of the grinding element for assisting dust particles in air suspension toward said chamber after they have been removed from the grinding element, a by-pass conduit, connected to said liquid conduit, said by-pass conduit having a discharge outlet, and a clothlike wiper element on said discharge outlet, said wiper element being engageable with the rotating shaft element of the grinding element whereupon liquid particles from the wiper element are directed to the grinding element.

5. In a dust collecting and liquid spray unit, a casing having a receiving chamber adapted to contain a coolant liquid, said chamber including a first opening in communication with the atmosphere, a centrifugal dust separator connected to said casing, said separator including an air discharge conduit in communication with said chamber, an air intake conduit and a dust discharge conduit on said separator, a dust receiving chute within said chamber, said chute including a vertically extending tubular portion in communication with said air intake conduit and said dust discharge conduit to permit the discharge of dust from said chute to said chamber, an intake pipe connected to said separator, an inlet hood connected to said intake pipe, said intake hood being adapted to be connected adjacent to a grinding element for drawing suspended grinding dust into said centrifugal separator, a liquid conduit in communication with said chamber, a pump connected to said liquid conduit for pumping liquid from said chamber through said liquid conduit, a by-pass conduit connected to said liquid conduit, said by-pass conduit having a discharge outlet, an

absorbent cloth-like wiper element over said discharge outlet, said Wiper element being engageable with the rotating shaft element of the grinding element whereupon liquid particles from the wiper element are directed to the grinding element, and a second liquid conduit connected to said by-pass conduit, said second conduit having an open end directed to discharge liquid directly into said hood.

6. In a dust collecting and liquid spray unit, a casing having a receiving chamber adapted to contain a coolant liquid, said chamber including a first opening in communication with the atmosphere, a centrifugal dust separator connected to said casing, said separator including an air discharge conduit in communication with said chamber, an air intake conduit and a dust discharge conduit on said separator, a dust receiving chute within said chamber, said chute including a vertically extending tubular portion in communication with said air intake conduit and said dust discharge conduit to permit the discharge of dust from said chute to said chamber, an

intake pipe connected to said separatonan inlet. hood connected to said intake pipe, said intake hood being adapted to be connected adjacent to a grinding element for drawing suspended grinding dust into said centrifrugal separator, a liquid conduit in communication with said chamber, a pump connected to said liquid conduit for pumping liquid from said chamber through said liquid conduit, a by-pass conduit connected to said liquid conduit, said by-pass conduit having a discharge outlet, an absorbent cloth-like wiper element over said discharge outlet, said wiper element being engageable with the rotating shaft element of the grinding element whereupon liquid particles from the wiper element are directed to the grinding element, and a second liquid conduit connected to said by-pass conduit adjacent to the discharge outlet, said second conduit having an open end directed to discharge liquid directly into said hood.

7. In a dust collecting and liquid spray unit, a casing having a receiving chamber adapted to contain a coolant liquid, a centrifugal dust separator connected to said casing including an air discharge conduit in communication with said chamber, an air intake conduit on the separator and a dust discharge conduit on the separator in communication with the chamber, an intake pipe connected to said separator, an inlet hood connected to said intake pipe, connecting means adapted to connect the hood adjacent to a rotatable grinding element, a liquid conduit in communication with the chamber, a pump connected to said liquid conduit for forcing liquid under pressure therethrough, a spray head on said conduit, said spray head being positioned to direct liquid under pressure directly into said hood independently from said grinding element whereby dust particles after they are removed from the grinding element are propelled toward said chamber in concert with the moving air stream.

8. A dust collecting and liquid spray unit including a container having a dust receiving and liquid containing chamber, a blower unit having an air intake conduit and an air discharge conduit in communication with said chamber, an intake pipe connected to said blower, a hood on said intake pipe adapted to be connected to a grinding machine adjacent to a rotating grinding disk, a liquid conduit in communication with said chamber, liquid pump means connected to said liquid conduit for pumping liquid through said liquid conduit, a spray head on said liquid conduit positioned remotely from the grinding disk, means connecting said spray head to said intake hood to direct liquid inwardly under pressure directly toward said intake pipe remotely from the grinding disk for directly engaging dust particles in suspension and for moving them in the direction of movement of said suspended grinding dust, and an absorbent cloth-like wiper element engageable with the rotating shaft element of the grinding disk, said'wiper element being communicatively connected to said liquid pump means whereby liquid is directed to said grinding disk.

9. A dust collecting and liquid spray unit including a container having a dust receiving and liquid containing chamberfa blower unit having an ai intake conduit and an air discharge conduit in communication with said chamber, an intake pipe connected to said blower, a hood on said intake pipe adapted to be connected to a grinding machine adjacent to a rotating grinding element, a liquid conduit in communication with said chamber, a pump connected to said liquid conduit for pumping liquid from said chamber through said liquid conduit, a spray head on said liquid conduit positioned remotely from the said grinding element, means connecting said spray head to said intake hood to direct liquid. inwardly under pressure directly toward said intake pipe remotely from the grinding element for directly engaging dust particles in suspension and for moving them in the direction of movement of said suspended grinding dust, a by-pass conduit connected to said liquid conduit, said by-pass conduit having a discharge outlet, an absorbent cloth-like wiper element over said discharge outlet, said wiper element being engageable' with the rotating shaft member of a grinding element whereby liquid is directed to said grinding element.

10. A dust collecting and liquid spray unit in accordance with claim 9, including a second liquid conduit connected to the by-pass conduit, said second conduit having an open end directed to discharge liquid directly into said hood.

11. A dust collecting and liquid spray unit in accordance with claim 10 including a bracket connected to said hood and to said bypass conduit for supporting the same,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 776,156 Vanderbush Nov. 29, 1904 790,943 Weber May 30, 1905 807,530 Yuhers Dec. 19, 1905 1,207,535 Gardner Dec. 5, 1916 1,986,378 Smith Jan. 1, 1935 2,293,250 Fisher Aug. 18, 1942 2,373,330 Nutting Apr. 10, 1945 2,384,991 Fisher Sept. 18, 1945 2,399,629 Fisher May 7, 1946 2,470,601 Burke May 17, 1949 2,586,242 Mathews Feb. 19, 1952 

